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RAB8A

Function

The small GTPases Rab are key regulators of intracellular membrane trafficking, from the formation of transport vesicles to their fusion with membranes. Rabs cycle between an inactive GDP-bound form and an active GTP-bound form that is able to recruit to membranes different sets of downstream effectors directly responsible for vesicle formation, movement, tethering and fusion. That Rab is involved in polarized vesicular trafficking and neurotransmitter release. Together with RAB11A, RAB3IP, the exocyst complex, PARD3, PRKCI, ANXA2, CDC42 and DNMBP promotes transcytosis of PODXL to the apical membrane initiation sites (AMIS), apical surface formation and lumenogenesis (PubMed:20890297). Together with MYO5B and RAB11A participates in epithelial cell polarization (PubMed:21282656). May be involved in ciliogenesis (PubMed:21844891, PubMed:30398148). Together with MICALL2, may also regulate adherens junction assembly (By similarity). May play a role in insulin-induced transport to the plasma membrane of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and therefore play a role in glucose homeostasis (By similarity). Involved in autophagy (PubMed:27103069).

Post-translational modifications

Phosphorylation of Thr-72 in the switch II region by LRRK2 prevents the association of RAB regulatory proteins, including CHM, CHML and RAB GDP dissociation inhibitors GDI1 and GDI2.

Sequence similarities

Belongs to the small GTPase superfamily. Rab family.

Cellular localization

  • Cell membrane
  • Lipid-anchor
  • Cytoplasmic side
  • Golgi apparatus
  • Recycling endosome membrane
  • Cell projection
  • Cilium
  • Cytoplasmic vesicle
  • Phagosome
  • Cytoplasmic vesicle
  • Phagosome membrane
  • Lipid-anchor
  • Cytoplasmic side
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Microtubule organizing center
  • Centrosome
  • Centriole
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Cilium basal body
  • Midbody
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cytoplasm
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Cilium axoneme
  • Colocalizes with OPTN at the Golgi complex and in vesicular structures close to the plasma membrane (PubMed:15837803). In the GDP-bound form, present in the perinuclear region (PubMed:12221131). Shows a polarized distribution to distal regions of cell protrusions in the GTP-bound form (PubMed:12221131). Colocalizes with PARD3, PRKCI, EXOC5, OCLN, PODXL and RAB11A in apical membrane initiation sites (AMIS) during the generation of apical surface and lumenogenesis (PubMed:20890297). Localizes to tubular recycling endosome (PubMed:19864458). Recruited to phagosomes containing S.aureus or M.tuberculosis (PubMed:21255211). Non-phosphorylated RAB8A predominantly localizes to the cytoplasm whereas phosphorylated RAB8A localizes to the membrane (PubMed:26824392, PubMed:29125462, PubMed:30398148).

Alternative names

  • Ras-related protein Rab-8A
  • Oncogene c-mel
  • RAB8A
  • MEL
  • RAB8

Target type

Proteins

Primary research area

Neuroscience

Molecular weight

23668Da